All My Favorite Kurts are Gone

First Kurt Cobain, age 27, suicide victim. He was too profound for the pettiness and coarse hustle of this world.

Now Kurt Vonnegut, who died today of a broken heart, age 84. It took him a lot longer than it did Cobain, but they ended up in the same place, away from the harm and hurt that they so eloquently tried to explain and contain, taking our pain and giving us back the fleeting but real pleasures of art. We did not deserve their great artistry, but they gave it to us nonetheless. They were entirely different people with entirely different approaches. But both left behind a rich legacy of deep empathy and concern. We are the better for having known them.

Here's a tribute video rap to Vonnegut: